Lotus Resources has received confirmation from Orano Chimie-Enrichissement (Orano CE) regarding the acceptance of uranium ore concentrate from its Kayelekera site at the conversion facility located in Malvesi, France.
This acceptance follows a series of collaborative efforts between Lotus and Orano CE to optimise and qualify the product.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The agreement requires Lotus to provide independent laboratory test results before initial shipments commence to Orano CE.
Additionally, Orano CE is assessing the acceptance of materials produced at the time of commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Lotus aims to achieve full production capacity at Kayelekera by the second quarter of 2026, supported by steady performance improvements reported in February and March.
Earlier in March, a statement highlighted that exporting uranium via the port of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, remains the preferred route to the market.
However, due to global shipping disruptions affecting routes from Dar-es-Salaam to Singapore’s trans-shipment hub, Lotus is collaborating with Alistair Group and freight forwarder Orano NPS to initiate exports through Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Lotus managing director Greg Bittar said: “Orano’s acceptance of uranium marks a fantastic milestone for the Kayelekera restart, positioning Lotus as the next global uranium supplier.
“We are very excited to have achieved this acceptance by Orano CE, which allows us to now plan for first product to be dispatched from site. The first export of uranium is subject to final product preparation, testing, acceptance, permits and shipping arrangements, all expected to occur in Q2 CY26.
“Whilst we will continue working to achieve accreditation with the other two western converters, ConverDyn and Cameco, the ability to exchange or swap product between converters means an Orano CE account provides us with delivery flexibility across all contracts and for future sales.”
In September 2025, Lotus completed a placement to raise about A$65m ($42m) to bolster working capital for its 85%-owned Kayelekera uranium project in Malawi and progress the development of the 100%-owned Letlhakane project in Botswana.
